Folding erame eor portable buildings



M. RASMUS'SENQ FQLDING FRAME FOR PORTABLE BUlLDINGSL APPLICATION FILED DEC.26. I914- 1,305,306. Patented June 3, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Inventor;

I WK'JCTTOGJSGJS 04 mm wzbsormeya.

w: NURRIS wsrsns cm. wow Lin/0.. WASHINGYON. my C.

M. RASMUSSENQ FOLDllNG FRAME FOR PORTABLE BUILDINGS.

Patented June 3,1919.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-26,1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l l m g; m

I 1006 rotor,

M. RASMUSSEN.

FOLDING FRAME FOR PORTABLE BUILDINGS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.26. I914- Patented June 3 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Invert/to .3 /(505630 @fl Wn mm M Ma WM eflirbor'rpeg' fiwnea'ses; W m.

UNITED STATES .PATEN T OFFICE.

MARTIN RASMUSSEN, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO GOLD MEDAL CAM]? FURNITURE MANUFACTURING 00., OF RACINE,

WISCONSIN.

WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF FOLDING FRAME FOR PORTABLE BUILDINGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J nne 3, 1919.

. Application filed December 26, 1914. Serial No. 879,098.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN RAsMUssEN, a citizen of the Kingdom of Denmark, residing at Racine, in the county of Racine and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Frames for Portable Buildings, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof.

The main objects of this invention are to produce a light folding frame which can be easily erected, taken down, folded and packed in small compass for transportation and storage; and which when taken down has few disconnected parts and no detached fastenings which are liable to be misplaced and lost; and generally to simplify and improve the construction and increase the convenience and utility of buildings of this class.

It consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts as hereinafter particularly described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing like characters designate the same parts in the several figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a frame embodying the invention partly erected and partly folded; Fig. 2 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of the frame folded; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 4 is an end elevation as viewed from the left relative to Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is an end elevation as viewed from the rightrelative to Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the ridge pole and middle rafters detached from the rest of the frame and folded; Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the same; and Figs. 8 to 1d inclusive are enlarged perspective views showing various joints and details employed in the construction of the hinge plates 10, riveted or bolted to theupper ends of the corner posts 1 and middle posts 2 respectively on opposite sides thereof. The proximate ends of the plate sections 3 are pivoted on cross pins of double box-like hinges 11 in such manner that said sections will fold downwardly between and parallel with the posts 1 and 2 and will unfold upwardly into alinement with each other at right angles to the posts. The sill sections 4. are also pivotally connected in like manner with each other and with the lower ends of the posts, so that they will fold upwardly into alinement with the plate sections 3, between and parallel with the posts land 2, as shown in Fig. 2, and will unfold downwardly into alinement with each other and at right angles to the posts, as shown at the left in Fig.

The sections 5 of the folding end sills are pivoted at their outer or distant ends on cross pins in box-like hinges 12, which are fastened to the inner sides of the sill sec-' The box hinges 11 are provided with inwardly projecting stops 13, which maybe conveniently formed by indenting the sheet metal of which the hinges are constructed, as shown in Fig. 10, so as to cause the sections connected by the hinges to fold evenly and symmetrically, as shown in Fig. 2, and at the right in Fig. 1; otherwise one of each pair of connected sectionsmight in folding, project beyond the other, and thus pre-' vent the compact nesting together of the frame members, as shown in Fig. 2. y

The plate sections 3 and the end sill sections 5 are looked and held in alinement with each other when the frame is unfolded and erected, by latches 14, which may be made, as shown, of flat metal bands pivoted at one end to one of each pair of connected sections andnotched at the opposite end to engage with a headed stud 15, secured in the other section, as shown in Figs l and 10. When the frame is folded these latches are turned back upon and parallel with the sections to which they are pivoted. The side sill sections may be provided with such latches, but ordinarily they are not necessary, as the side sills fold upwardly and rest when the frame is erected, on the ground or other foundation.

The end rafters 6 are provided on their inner or lower sides at their lower ends with hinge plates 16, riveted or bolted thereto and connected by pivot pins with the inner hinge plates 9 on the corner posts 1, so as to fold inwardly and downwardly against and parallel with the corner posts, as shown in Fig. 3, and at the right in Fig. 1. The lower ends of the rafters 6 are beveled to fit and rest upon the adjacentplate sections 3, which in turn rest upon the upper ends of the corner posts when the frame is un folded and erected. The upper ends of the rafters 6 are notched and beveled to receive and fit against the sides and bottom of the ridge pole sections 8, and'are formed with holes 17 to receive cross pins 18 secured in and projecting from opposite sides of said sections, as shown in Fig. 8.

The inner or proximate ends of the ridge pole sections 8 are pivotally connected with each other by a box-like hinge 19, whichpermits them to fold downwardly together, as shown in Fig. 6, and to unfoldupwardly into alinement with each other, as shown'in Fig. 11. The sides of thehinge 11, which like the other hinges used in the construction of the frame, may bemade of sheet metal, are formed with ears 20, between which the upper ends of the middle rafters 7 are pivoted on cross pins, the ends of the rafters being beveled to lit and bear against the sides of the hinge, as shown in FigsQl and 11, when the frame is erected. Attheir lower ends the rafters 7 are beveled to fit and rest against the upper sides of the plate sections 8, and are provided with hooks 21, to engage with pins 22 projecting from the end of one of the plate sections, as shown in Fig. 13. These hooks 21 may be made of sheet metal inserted and riveted in saw kerfs formed in the rafters and adapted to be inserted between the hinge plates 10 and the ends of the plate sections 3 pivoted thereto. The ends, of the plate sections 3 opposite those in which the pins- 22 are inserted, are formed with slots, or grooves 23, as shown in Fig. 5,to receive the ends of the pins and permit them to pass into place when the plate sections are un-' folded into alinement-with each other.

The end rafters 6 are connected and held in place when the frame is erected, by tie braces, which may be made, as shown in Fig. 1, of band metal sections 2 1, pivoted at their outer ends to the rafters, as shown in Fig. 1, one of said sections being formed with a hole or series of holes'25, for detach able engagement with a headed stud 26, on the other section.. .When the frame is taken down and folded the brace sections are turned back upon and parallel with the rafters to which they are pivoted, as shown at the right in Fig. 1.

To take down the frame the brace sections 241 are disconnected from each other and turned back parallel with the rafters (i, to which they are pivoted, as shown at the right in Fig. 1, thus releasing the outer ends of ridge pole sections 8. The hooks 21 are disengaged from the pins 2:2 and removed from the adjoining plate sections 3. The rafters 7 and ridge pole sections 8 may then be folded together, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

The end rafters, after the ridge pole is released and removed are folded downwardly and inwardly against and parallel with the corner posts, as shown at the right in Fig. 1.

The latches 1 1 being disengaged from the studs 15 and turned back upon and parallel with the plate and sill sections 3 and 5, to which they are pivoted, the plate sections 3 are folded downwardly and the side sill sec tions 41 are folded upwardly, as shown at the right in Fig. 1, and are brought together parallel with each other and wi th-thc corner and middle posts 1 and 2, as shown in Fig.2. The end sill sections 5 are folded upwardly parallel with each other and close to and parallel with the inner sides of the side sill sections 4;, with which they are con nected, and close to and parallel with the inner sides of the end rafters folded'against the inner sides of the corner posts, thus leaving between opposite end sill sections and opposite middle posts and side sill sections, an open space in which the folded ridge pole and middle rafters are inserted and held, as shown in Figsag and 5. s

In the erection of the frame practically the reverse of the foregoing operations is followed.

For a smaller or shorter building the folding plates and sills at one side of the middle posts 2, may be omitted, and for the posts 2 and rafters '7, corner posts 1 and end rafters 6 with connections like those shown at the ends of the frame in Fig. 1, may obviously be substituted, the folding ridge pole being replaced by a one-piece removable ridge pole constructed at both ends like the outer'ends of the sections 8;

The members of the frame are preferably made as shown, of wood, which is light and sufliciently strong, especially if hard wood is used, and the fittings by which the memhere are connected are preferably made'as shown, of sheet metal, although other materials may be used in the construction of the frame. lVhen made of wood, some of the members, such as plate sections'3, and sill sections 4: and 5, which are pierced close to their rounded ends with holes forv the pivot pins of the hinges 11,'are;preferabl-y provided with sheet metal reinforcing and wear strips 27, as shown in Fig. 14, to prevent the pivot pins fro-m splitting the wood and to present smooth rounded bearings for engagement with the stops 13.

Various changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the principle and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a folding frame for portable build ings the combination with posts, of sills and plates each composed of sections pivotally connected with each other and with the ends of the posts and adapted to fold between and parallel with the posts and to unfold at right angles thereto.

2. In a folding frame for portable buildings the combination with corner and middle posts, of sills and plates each composed of two sections pivotally connected with each other end to end and with the ends of adjacent posts and adapted to fold between and parallel with the posts and to unfold at right angles thereto.

3. In a folding frame for portable buildings the combination with posts, of plates and side sills, each composed of two sections pivotally connected with each other end to end and with said posts so as to fold between and parallel with the posts and to unfold at right angles thereto, and end sills pivoted at the ends to the side sills adjacent to the posts and composed of pivotally connected sections adapted to fold between and parallel with the side sills and to unfold at right angles thereto.

4. In a folding frame for portable buildings the combination with posts, of plates and side sills each composed of two sections pivotally connected with each other and with said posts adjacent to the ends thereof, end sills pivoted at the ends to the side sills adjacent to the posts and composed of sections pivotally connected with each other, and rafters pivotally connected at their lower ends with the upper ends of the posts and adapted to fold inwardly parallel therewith and with the folded plate and sill sections.

5. In a folding frame for portable buildings the combination with posts, of plates and side sills each composed of two sections pivotally connected with each other and with the ends of said posts, end sills pivoted at their ends to the side sills adjacent to the posts and each composed of pivotally connected sections, rafters pivoted at their lower ends to the upper ends of the posts and adapted to fold parallel therewith and with the folded plate and sill sections, and folding tie braces for connecting opposite rafters when the frame is erected.

6. In a folding frame for portable buildings the combination with posts, of folding platesand side sills pivotally connected with the posts adjacent to their ends and each composed of two sections pivotally connected with each other, folding end sills pivotally connected with the side sills adjacent to the posts at the corners of the frame and each composed of two sections pivotally connected with each other, rafters pivotally connected at their lower ends with the upper ends of the posts and adapted to fold parallel therewith and with the folded plate and sill sections, leaving a longitudinal opening, and'a folding ridge pole adapted to be detachably fastened to the upper ends of the rafters at opposite ends of the frame and when detached and folded to be inserted in the opening left between the other folded frame members.

7. In a folding frame for portable buildings the combination with corner and middle posts, of folding plates and side sills pivotally connected with the posts adjacent to their ends and each composed of two pivotally connected sections adapted to fold together between and parallel with the posts, rafters pivotally connected at their lower ends with the upper ends of the corner posts and adapted to fold parallel therewith and with the folded plate and sill sections, a folding ridge pole composed of pivotally connected sections adapted to be detachably fastened to the upper ends of the end rafters, and middle rafters pivoted at their upper ends to the ridge pole adjacent to the pivotally connected ends of its sections and adapted to fold parallel therewith, the lower ends of the middle rafters adapted to be detachably fastened to the plates adjacent to the upper ends of the middle posts.

8. In a folding frame for portable buildings the combination with posts, of folding plates .and sills pivotally connected with the posts adjacent to their ends and each composed of pivotally connected sections, and rafters pivotally connected at their lower ends with the upper ends of the posts and adapted to fold parallel therewith and with the folded plate and sill sections.

9. In a folding frame for portable buildings the combination with posts, of oppo- V sitely folding plates and side sills pivotally connected at their ends with the upper and lower ends of the posts and each composed of two pivotally connected sections adapted to fold between and parallel with the posts and to unfold at right angles thereto, and latches each adapted to fasten the sections of a plate in alinement with each other and movably connected with one of the sections.

10. In a folding frame for portable buildings the combination with posts, of oppositely folding plates and side sills pivotally connected at their ends with the upper and lower ends of the posts and each composed the posts and each composed of tWo sections. and double box hinges pivotally connecting the plate and. sill sections and each provided with two cross pins anda stop between the pins for causing said sections tofold evenly.

, In Witness whereof I hereto affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

a MARTIN RASMUSSEN. Witnesses:

G. M. BRYCE, WV. G. GITTINes.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D; G. 

